Somalia broadens its youth soccer league through FIFA support

Financed by FIFA, a broadened second edition of Somalia's Domestic youth football league, has kicked off at Banadir Stadium, with Baarbe youth team winning the inaugural match after beating Anadol boys 2-0 on Thursday.

Baarbe’s striker, Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud, scored the
opening goal of this year’s youth league in the 20th minute, while a
teammate, Hassan Abdullahi Mohamed, netted the second goal for his team just
before half time.

Anadol boys made some attempts but were unsuccessful in all
their endeavors to score a goal as they lost some golden opportunities which could
have made at least a goal for them.

Meanwhile, two matches were played on Friday which both made
2-0 results. In the first Match, 21st November youth
football team defeated their Hoyga Xamar rivals 2-0, while Shariif Qulateyn boys
thrashed their opponents of Raage Ugaas with the same score.

The competition has been broadened this year, as 14 teams
are in participation, while last year’s league attracted 12 youth football
teams. "We have witnessed that people are more interested in such football
league which is new to the country and that is why the SFF had decided to
increase the number of participating teams” Somali Football Federation (SFF) president, Abdiqani Said Arab, said adding that
the SFF is committed to organizing youth soccer leagues every year.

Director General of the ministry for youth and sports,
Isaq Hashi, who addressed at the opening ceremony of the youth league, said
that the launch of the youth league was a milestone adding that organizing such
competition every year is a meaningful experience for the whole country.

This is all youth competition as team coaches and
officiating referees are young people who were trained at FIFA youth coaching
curses and FIFA youth refereeing courses held in Somalia both in 2016 and in 2017,
as part of Somali FA’s youth development programs.